During his four-year career in boy’s tennis at Chambersburg, Ben Gabler was unfamiliar with the word “lose.”
Because of that, Gabler put together a stellar career for the Trojans in the early 1990’s and is by any measure the school’s greatest tennis player ever.
Gabler has been named to the second class of the Chambersburg Athletics Hall of Fame.
Gabler finished his fabulous high school career at Chambersburg with a 73-3 record in singles and doubles matches.
As a freshman, he was defeated in the District 3 final by Ken Shapiro of Susquehanna Township, and again in the PIAA semifinals by Dan Lehman of Conestoga, and ended up third in the state by beating Shapiro in three sets, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.
The following year, Gabler decided to play doubles in the postseason with his brother Matt, a senior (players had to choose to play either singles or doubles, but not both). They won a District 3 championship, but were defeated in the state final, 6-2, 6-4, by Matt and Clint Guyaux of Highlands.
Gabler did not lose again. In his junior season, he won District 3 and PIAA titles. In the state final, in a grueling and tight match, he edged Matt Guyaux, now of Abington Heights, 7-6 (5) and 7-6 (7).
As a senior, Gabler put together another unbeaten season, with District 3 and PIAA crowns. In the state championship match, he breezed to a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Marc Silva of Pennridge, who was the champion the next two years.
Not surprisingly, Gabler was recruited by many college programs, including schools from all of the top five conferences, but he ended up choosing the Big Ten Conference’s University of Minnesota, which was ranked No. 6 at the time.
In his four years with the Gophers, Minnesota was 44-0 in Big Ten matches and collected four conference titles. Gabler was an All-Conference selection, was named the Big Ten most outstanding athlete in tennis, was an NCAA All-Tournament pick and also earned the Louis Ratner Award given to the most outstanding Minnesota men’s tennis athlete.
After he graduated, Gabler gave professional tennis a shot on the ATP Tour and gained a world ranking, and he qualified for the U.S. Open by winning a Junior Davis Cup qualifier.
Gabler then finished his tennis career by coaching at Penn State University for nearly a decade.
Now the president of Gabler Trucking, Inc. of Chambersburg, Gabler wishes to thank his wife Laurie and his family; his coach, Jay Lefever; and the community for an opportunity to be a Trojan athlete.
By Ed Gotwals
